Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

A Massive, Clumpy Molecular Gas Distribution and Displaced AGN in Zw 3146

Vantyghem, A.N.; McNamara, B.R.; O’Dea, C.P.; Baum, S.A.; Combes, F.; Edge, A.C.; Fabian, A.C.; McDonald, M.; Nulsen, P.E.J.; Russell, H.R.; Salomé, P.

A Massive, Clumpy Molecular Gas Distribution and Displaced AGN in Zw 3146 Thumbnail


Authors

A.N. Vantyghem

B.R. McNamara

C.P. O’Dea

S.A. Baum

F. Combes

A.C. Fabian

M. McDonald

P.E.J. Nulsen

H.R. Russell

P. Salomé



Abstract

We present a recent Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array observation of the CO(1−0) line emission in the central galaxy of the Zw 3146 galaxy cluster (z = 0.2906). We also present updated X-ray cavity measurements from archival Chandra observations. The 5 × 1010 M⊙ supply of molecular gas, which is confined to the central 4 kpc, is marginally resolved into three extensions that are reminiscent of the filaments observed in similar systems. No velocity structure that would be indicative of ordered motion is observed. The three molecular extensions all trail X-ray cavities, and are potentially formed from the condensation of intracluster gas lifted in the wakes of the rising bubbles. Many cycles of feedback would be required to account for the entire molecular gas reservoir. The molecular gas and continuum source are mutually offset by 2.6 kpc, with no detected line emission coincident with the continuum source. It is the molecular gas, not the continuum source, that lies at the gravitational center of the brightest cluster galaxy. As the brightest cluster galaxy contains possible tidal features, the displaced continuum source may correspond to the nucleus of a merging galaxy. We also discuss the possibility that a gravitational wave recoil following a black hole merger may account for the displacement.

Citation

Vantyghem, A., McNamara, B., O’Dea, C., Baum, S., Combes, F., Edge, A., …Salomé, P. (2021). A Massive, Clumpy Molecular Gas Distribution and Displaced AGN in Zw 3146. Astrophysical Journal, 910(1), Article 53. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/abe306

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Feb 2, 2021
Online Publication Date Mar 25, 2021
Publication Date 2021
Deposit Date Sep 22, 2021
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Astrophysical Journal
Print ISSN 0004-637X
Electronic ISSN 1538-4357
Publisher American Astronomical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 910
Issue 1
Article Number 53
DOI https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/abe306

Files

Published Journal Article (1.9 Mb)
PDF

Copyright Statement
© 2021. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.





You might also like



Downloadable Citations